Automobile-signal.



G. S. VAUGHN.

AUTOMOBILE SIGNAL.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 23, 1913.

Patented May 26, 1914.

2' SHEETS-SHEET 1.

wwwto; 6 5, V4 07 7777 wi liwwoeo 0. s. VAUGHN.

AUTOMOBILE SIGNAL.

APPLICATION FILED MAYZS, 1913.

1,097,689, Patented May 26, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

CYRUS S. VAUGHN, OF NEW ROCHELLE, NEW YORK.

AUTOMOBILE-SIGNAL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 23, 1913.

Patented May 26, 1914.

serial No. 769,514.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CYRUS S. VAUGHN,

a citizen of the United States, residing at New Rochelle, in the countyof Westchester, State of New York, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Automobile-Signals; and I do hereby declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same.

This invention relates to automobile signals.

The object of the invention resides in the provision of an automobilesignal which can be operated by the driver of the automobile so as toindicate to vehicles following that he intends to either stop, slowdown, turn to the right or turn to the left.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a signalof the character named which includes an electric light adapted to beilluminated when the signal is set and extinguished when the parts ofthe signal are in unset position whereby the signal may be observed atnight without the necessity of maintaining same constantly illuminated.

With the above and other objects in View the invention consists in thedetails of construction and in the arrangement and combination of partsto be hereinafter more fully described and particularly pointed out inthe appended claims.

In describing the invention in detail reference will be had to theaccompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference denotecorresponding parts in the several views, andin which- Figure 1 is aside view partly in section of a signaling device constructed inaccordance with the invention and showing the manner of supporting sameupon an automobile at the rear of the latter, the Stop signal being setin his instance; Fig. 2, a rear view of Fig. 1 with the shade plate andlamp removed for the sake of clearness; Fig. 3, a section on the line3-3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4, a section on the line 4- 1 of Fig. 3 with theTurn to the left signal set; Fig. 5, a similar view of the Turn to theright signal set; Fig. 6, a similar view with the Slow signal set; Fig.7, a section on the line 7-7 of Fig. 3, with the shade plate in place,and Fig. 8, a detail perspective view showing the construction foroperating the device from the steering column of the automobile.

Referring to the drawings 10 indicates the rear of the body of anautomobile to which is secured a bracket 11. The signaling device isshown as comprising a casing A constructed of metal and including a top12, bottom 13, side members 14 and 15 and a rear wall 16. Secured to therear wall 16 is an eye member 17 which is adapted to be engaged over thebracket 11 to secure the signaling device to the automobile as will beapparent. Mounted on the inner sides of the side members 14 and 15 arevertical bearing plates 18 and 19 respectively. Journaled in bearingplates 18 and 19 respectively are the trunnions 20 and 21 of an uppersignal plate 22 which has suitably indicated on one side the word Stopand on the other side the word Slow. Also journaled in the plates 18 and19 are the trunnions 23 and 24 respectively of a lower signal plate 25which latter has suitably indicated on one side the word Turn with anarrow pointing to the right. and on the other side the word Turn with anarrow pointing to the left. Fixed on the trunnion 21 by means of alinedscrews 26 is a square block 27 formed of Suit-able insulating material.Also fixed on the trunnion 21 between the block 27 and the bearing plate19 is a segmental gear, 28. Mounted on the bearing plate 19 andprojecting inwardly of the casing beneath trunnion 21 is a rod 29 onwhich is rotatably mounted a segmental gear 30 meshing with thesegmental gear 28. Also rotatably mounted on the rod 29 is av segmentalgear 31 for a purpose that will presently appear. Fixed on the trunnion24 is a segmental gear 32 which meshes with the segmental gear 31 andalso fixed on this trunnion 24: by means of alined screws 33 is a squareblock 34. Anchored to the inner side of the rear wall 16 is one end of aleaf spring which bears upon the edge of the block 27 and is adapted toen age the outer ends of the screws 26 as said block is rotated. Alsoanchored to the inner side of the rear wall 16 is one end of a leafspring 36 which engages the edge of the block 34 and is adapted tocontact with the outer ends of the screws 33 as said block 34 isrotated.

Secured to the side of the segmental gear 30 remote from the side wall15 is a bracket 37 to which is connected one end of a rod 38. This rod38 extends through an opening 39 in the rear wall of the casing and hasits other end secured to a lever 40 pivoted upon a bracket 41 mountedupon the steering column of the automobile. Also mounted upon thebracket 41 is a segment 42 which is provided with suitable teeth forcooperation with the lever 40. By this construction it will be apparentthat by moving the lever 40 the upper signal plate 22 can be rotated soas to dispose same in vertical position with either side disposedadjacent the outer end of the casing A or in a horizontal position sothat the edge of said plate will only be visible from the open end ofthe casing. Secured to the side of the segmental gear 31 is a bracket 43which has connected thereto one end of a rod 44 which passes through anopening in the rear wall of the casing A and has its other end securedto a lever 46 pivoted to the bracket 41 and cooperating with the segment42. From this construction it will be apparent that by moving the lever.46 on its pivot the lower signal plate 25 can be rotated to disposesame in vertical position with either side adjacent the outer end of thecasing A, or to dispose said plate 25 horizontal with only the edgethereof visible from the outer end of the casing.

In order to illuminate the device when a signal is set there is providedan electrical source E from which extend conductor wires 47 and 48. Bothof these wires are carried through the rear wall of the casing A and thewire 47 is attached to one of the poles of an electric lamp 49 mountedon the side wall 15 of the casing. Leading from the other pole of thelamp 49 is a wire 50 which is connected to the bearing plate 19 so as toinclude the casing A in the circuit supplied by the electric source Eand to be hereinafter referred to. The wire 48 is connected to the innerend of the spring 35 and then connected to the inner end of the spring36. Mounted upon the casing A so as to shield the lamp 49 from view is ashade plate 51 which also serves to reflect the light against the plates22 and 25 when the latter are in signaling position. When the plate 22has been rotated to a position to signal either slow or stop an electriccurrent will be established through the wire 48, spring 35, one of thescrews 26. trunnion 21. casing A, wire 50, lamp 49 and wire-3:47 so thatthe lamp 49 will be illuminated. hen the plate 25 has been rotated to aposition to signal either turn to the right or turn to the left acircuit will be established through the wire 48, spring 36, one of thescrews 33, trunnion 24, casing A, wire 50, lamp 49 and wire 47 so thatsaid lamp will be illuminated. When neither of the plates 22 or 25 aredisposed in signaling position nocurrent will pass through the lamp 49and the signaling device under these conditions will be practicallyinvisible at night.

It will be noted that not only do the springs 35 and'36 act as circuitclosers in conjunction with the screws 26 and 33 respectively but theywill serve by bearing upon the edges of the blocks 27 and 34respectively to hold the plates 22 and 25 against rotation from a givenset position as the result of jars and vibrations incident to travel.

lVhat I claim is 1. In a signal for vehicles, the combination of acasing having an observation opening, a plate including trunnions at itsends rotatably mounted in respective sides of the casing and havingsignal terms inscribed on the sides thereof adapted to be exposedselectively to View through the observation opening by the rotation ofthe plate, means for rotating said plate to dispose either signal termto view, an electric circuit including one of the trunnions ofthe plate,a block of insulating material fixed on said last named trunnion, screwsdisposed in said block and having their inner ends in engagement withsaid last-named trunnion and their outer ends projecting beyond oppositeouter edges of the block respectively, a contact finger included in saidcircuit and bearing against the edge of the block, said contact fingerbeing adapted to engage the outer end of one of said screws when theplate is positioned to dispose either signal term to view, and anelectric lamp included in said circuit and disposed within the casing.

2. In a signal for vehicles, the combination of a casing having anobservation opening, a plate including trunnions at its ends rotatablymounted in respective sides of the casing and having signal termsinscribed on the sides thereof adapted to be exposed selectively to viewthrough the observation opening by the rotation of the plate, means forrotating said plate to dispose either signal term to view, an electric.circuit including one of the trunnions of the plate, a block ofinsulating material fixed on said last named trunnion, said block havinga plurality of flat sides, screws disposed in said block and havingtheir inner ends in engagement with said last named trunnion and theirouter ends projecting beyond opposite outer edges of the blockrespectively, a contact finger included in said circuit and memes 3hearing against the edge of the block, saint contact finger beingadapted to engage the outer end of one of said screws When the plate ispositioned to dispose either signal term to VieWQand an electric lampincluoied .in said circuit and dlisposed Within the casing,

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature, 1n the presence of twowltnesses.

CYRUS S. VAUGHN Witnesses BARBARA 1E, VAUGHN, JENNIE S. CLARK.

